From Students to Statesmen: NRW Prix-Fixe Prices Welcomes All...Bon Appetit!

Today we welcome guest blogger Mia Lupo, a senior at Salve Regina University here in Newport. Mia is the Fashion and Lifestyle Co-Editor of the Mosaic as well as a freelance social media consultant. Today she dishes on her Newport Restaurant Week experience!

Newport Restaurant Week has finally begun! NRW provides an opportunity for both locals and tourists to enjoy the diverse cuisine and experience the special atmosphere of so many Newport and Bristol County restaurants. The prix-fixe menu $16 for lunch, $30 for dinner is an affordable treat even for college students and the perfect excuse to take a break from the campus cafeteria.

I've made it a tradition to celebrate NRW with friends and family since my first year at Salve Regina University. To celebrate the first night of this fall's NRW and the end of a very busy week, my college roommate Lauren and I went to Scales & Shells Restaurant and Raw Bar. I've walked or driven past Scales & Shells many times, but I had never eaten there before. When I asked my friends who had eaten there about their experiences, they were more than happy to recommend it.

As a seafood lover, it was tough deciding what to order because everything on the dinner menu looked phenomenal, but I ended up choosing the shrimp spring roll with sweet and spicy dipping sauce for the appetizer; the broiled New England codfish topped with breadcrumbs and butter, served with a grilled vegetable kabob for the entree; and chocolate Gelato for dessert. Lauren also ordered the shrimp spring roll as an appetizer, but she decided to get the grilled Toro tuna with grilled asparagus and mushrooms served with French fries for her entree and vanilla Gelato for her dessert.

On first bite of the shrimp spring roll, it became obvious that this was what fresh seafood was supposed to taste like. My family has bought fresh fish from Galilee in Narragansett, R.I. and prepared it at home, but I realized I had never eaten fresher seafood at a restaurant before. The entrees looked, smelled and tasted like seafood heaven. It pained me not to finish the codfish and the vegetable kabob; my stomach simply ran out of room.

The grilled tuna had the same effect on Lauren, but thankfully she had enough for leftovers. We were both stuffed, yet, after being conquered by the portion size of the codfish, I'm still not sure how I was able to finish the chocolate Gelato. It may have taken several deep and determined breaths to make myself consume as much delicious fare as my jeans would let me (thankfully, the jeans have stretch). I intend to return to Scales and Shells again, whether it's for dinner with my family or for a girls night out on the town. I also hope to go to one more restaurant for Newport Restaurant Week to celebrate my 21st birthday next Saturday Suggestions, anyone?

Be sure to check out all of the participating restaurants and their delicious menus on the Newport Restaurant Week website! Don't miss out on all of the delicious lunch and dinner prix-fixes! Newport Restaurant Week lasts through Sunday November 10th.